Question of the Day

Whose side of the story do you believe?

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson says he’s still finalizing the health care plan he’ll detail to lawmakers later this month that will include his decision on the future of the state’s compromise Medicaid expansion.

Hutchinson told lawmakers after being sworn in Tuesday that he planned to deliver a speech Jan. 22 on the future of health care in the state, including Arkansas’ “private option” Medicaid expansion. Under the private option, Arkansas uses federal funds to purchase private insurance for thousands of low-income residents.

Hutchinson told reporters he’s still gathering information for the speech, and has been talking with other Republican governors to measure how much flexibility Arkansas may have if it wants to change the private option or the Medicaid program as a whole.